48Synonyms found for abolish

Word Origin & History

abolish mid-15c., from M.Fr. aboliss-, prp. stem of abolir "to abolish," from L. abolescere "to die out, decay little by little," inceptive of L. abolere "to retard the growth of," from ab- "from" + adolere "to grow," from PIE *ol-eye-, causative of base *al- "to grow, nourish" (see old). Tucker writes that there has been a confusion of forms in L., based on similar roots, one meaning "to grow," the other "to destroy." Application to persons and concrete objects has long been obsolete.

Example Sentences for abolish

The process of abolishing the death penalty moved forward at an unusually fast pace.

In 1953 a plan to abolish the city of Miami failed by only 980 votes.

Several states have attempted but failed to abolish the law.

This program is now dormant pending a decision to continue or to abolish it.

It's hard to create new rules, but it's easy to abolish existing ones.

Nationally known as an outstanding librarian, storyteller and author she worked to abolish stereotypes in children's literature.

To pay for her plan, she would abolish the guaranteed-loan program and freeze the estate tax.

The plan would not abolish cancellation fees entirely.

It is the 24th amendment that abolished poll taxes.

One of the new government's first tasks was to abolish the centuries-old monarchy.